Leah turned to face Isabelle and Vindar, slamming and locking the chamber door behind her.  Soon after, angry voices grew to a pitch on the other side, fists banging on the thick wood.  “I’ve had enough.  We’ve got to do something, and quick.  I’m the queen today, and I won’t put up with this crap.”

“Looky here, a woman with some fire in her heart,” Vindar quipped.

“What do you want to do?” asked Isabelle.

“It’s pretty obvious that these crows hold a spell with them that causes everyone to go nutty, right?  There’s no way we’re going to get any control over these guys, so I say we put as many of them in the dungeons as we can.  I’m sure there are a few people yet who haven’t been exposed, and maybe they could help us.”

Vindar’s face lit up.  “Even better, we could break into the magic room and find some spells of our own, teleportation, trapping, even temporary shape-shifting.  Whatever we can find.  This would keep us safe from their weapons until we could move them to the dungeons.”

“I know what places to look for help… We could give out crystals to a few to help out, so we could speed up the process,” Isabelle offered.

Leah had to shout over the loud voices behind, “Don’t they know these doors are bound by magic and unbreakable?”  She turned to the door and shouted, “Could you please keep it down!?”  Surprisingly, the attackers became silent at her intimidating voice.  She turned to face them again, pacing the area in front of them.  “I think you both have some good ideas,” she continued, “and we definitely need to regain control of the kingdom as soon as possible.  From the first, we need to let Kaleb know that he’s not going to manipulate us that easily.  Our second matter of business is to get Sage’s plan for disabling the crows into commission.  It doesn’t seem like there are any new swarms of birds headed our way, so we should be able to work with the ones that are already here.  And, once we have a few of our current instigators in the dungeons, we can also make sure that we take care of their loopiness, as well.”

Vindar rubbed his sharp cheeks as he switched the topic to more somber matters. “You know, before this all broke out, Hoggle’s dad was in a pretty bad lot.  We need to find him and see what we can do.  I think everyone forgot him in the chaos.”

Leah sighed.  “Yeah, you’re right.  But I don’t know what we can do.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there would have been some tragedy in this day, regardless of whether or not Kaleb pulled his tricks.”

The face of the young Isabelle flushed as she wrung her hands.  “Oh, poor Hoggle!”

“You go find him Isabelle, while we get the ball rolling on the plan.  Go through the secret passageways to make sure you don’t get into any trouble,” Leah said while she pushed back a piece of wall in their current location to reveal a dark hallway. 

“Okay.  I sure hope he’s alright.”

*        *        *

“No you’re not!  Look’ere, I ain’t gonna let you give up! What kinda nonsense talk is that?”  Hoggle pulled the covers closer up to his father’s neck as he nervously eyed the barred door over his shoulder.  “We’re gonna needs your ’elp!  You can’t leave us when you gots a chance to prove how smart you are!  You’d never miss a chance to lord over everyone.” 

“Oh, shut your trap, boy.  You too busy talking, don’t know what you’re sayin’.  I’m too tired, I don’ wanna help no one.  You kin handle yerselves.  Good sleep is callin’ me.  I spent too many nights up late, writin’ and writin’ for everyone else, but now I needs to sleep.  Shuddup and let me!”

Hoggle’s mother stepped in and put a comforting hand over the bulge in the blanket where Hoggle Senior’s hand lay.  “Look now, hun, don’t hassle ‘im.  Remember our pact?  You know this is gonna be hard on ‘im, let ‘im be.”

“Aw, he’s a young lad yet, he kin handle it, he’s got…” Hoggle Senior quickly broke into profuse coughing.

Hoggle ignored his father’s obvious pain and demanded, “What’re you talkin’ about?  What pact?  You tell me, I don’ like surprises.”

Mrs. Hiddlebury wrung her hands and gave her husband a long careful glance before she looked back at her son.  “We never told you ‘bout this, Son, but we made a pact with the aid of a sorcerer saying that we would go to the afterworld together.  The sorcerer sealed the pact with a spell.”

“What’re you sayin’?” Hoggle demanded, shaking more with each moment.

“If one of us passes to the other realm, the other will, too.”  She was somber as she gazed at her troubled boy.

Hoggle took a moment to find his tongue.  “I don’ believe it! You’re just pullin’ my leg.  Now that’s enough, yous better get better, Pops, these jokes ain’t doin’ no good for my health.”

“Son, she’s tellin’ ya true,” Mr. Hiddlebury said with drooping eyelids.  It was obvious that his fire was dimming with each moment.

Hoggle broke out into a rage and stormed around the room.  “How could ya do this to me!? To yer son!  Not only I got to lose my dad right when his stubborn will is gonna let me back inside his home, but now I gotsta lose my Mum, who’s healthy as a steed, and could be here to console me?”  He turned around.  His father’s figure lay limp in the bed, gradually disappearing into another realm, whilst his mother remained, a wan smile on her face.  “He didn’t get a chance to tell you, my good boy, but he loves you, and so do I.  I’m sorry that this will be so hard for you, but at least know yer father’s not alone in his journey.  We will be watchin’ over you.  We’re proud of you.”

With her last breath, she said, “Good-bye my little Hoggle.”

Hoggle stared with his mouth agape and the empty bed before him.  It was like a tragic and sudden car crash.  And where were his friends? He needed Sarah more than ever, to cry in the arms of the only friend to which he would allow himself to show his tears. 

All alone, he fell onto his knees, clutching the blanket under which his father once lay, sobbing wildly into its plush, feathery depths.  “Oh, Papa, Mum… I’m gonna miss you!  And my last words were harsh.  How could I?  How could I ‘ave known?  Why didn’ you tell me?  Oh, damn you, Hoggle…”

*        *        *

Trees of all types were fashioned in eloquent patterns, leading to various gardens of purple and burgundy flowers, dark leaves heralding an age of wing.  The dark shadows of birds flittered throughout the large room, sometimes aimlessly from tree to tree, sometimes to feed from the various bowls of seed throughout the room.  The birds numbered in the thousands, and most of them consisted of crows and ravens.

The dark beauty of the room was enchanting, but Sarah was not here for pleasure.  Peeking from behind the leaves of a birch tree, she watched as Kaleb worked at an ornate wooden desk, doing more thoughtful brooding than writing.  On the desk sat the assembled pieces of the amethyst, glowing from within with a reddish light.  Many iron-wrought bookshelves lined his little haven in the aviary, between which sat a strange scrying device which bore intricate designs in silver.

Kaleb did not see the spying Sarah due to the fact that she had cleverly transformed herself into an easily-concealed dove.  After surveying the surroundings, she quietly flew to a tree nearer the scrying device to watch the images that flashed through its depths.

Within she saw images of the various kingdoms engaged in civil war as well as war abroad.  It seemed as if Kaleb definitely had his grip on the seven kingdoms of the great council, with a great potential for gaining a foothold on several more.  She wasn’t exactly sure what his plan was, but she had an inkling.  It was too bad that he was such a small thinker and so limited by power and circumstances. 

He pulled out a pocketwatch, and, upon considering the time he rose from his chair in preparation for an exit.  “She should be ready by now,” he mumbled.

Not as aware as you would like to seem, Kaleb.  She took wing and flew back to her current chambers, where she knew he would soon seek her out.  As she felt the cool chill of the wind under her temporary feathers, a thought came to mind.  He wants to use me to rule the Underground.  But I will use him… to rule it all.  Perhaps New York is finally ready for my arrival.

*        *        *

Once they had become clear of the Labyrinth, it didn’t take Sage long to summon the remaining Spangores in the birds’ kingdom atop the tall Shadow Mountains.  A few had remained clear of the crows, which were too small in frame to be able to fly over the high windy peaks of the mountain, therefore saving them from the negative effects of the small birds’ magic.  With a little crafty maneuvering and a lot of risk, the kings and queens of the various kingdoms were dropped off at their respective palaces to begin preparations for the coming resistance and to take stock of the damage that had been done.

Sage was very happy that they hadn’t had to continue the journey on foot.  As the Fieries weren’t much for keeping a granary and the Felines did not eat grains, Benedick and the fiery Eepwot joined Sage in his journey to the elfin kingdom.  The small band snuck in through the palace windows, as the doors had been heavily fortified.  Their Spangore, Jinga let them down softly upon the throne room floor, where they stepped down, greeted immediately by the few sane elves in the kingdom. 

As Sage was making his greetings to a group of very happy elves who had assumed their rescue was around the corner, a tall elf pushed his way through the crowd to grasp Sage.  “Sage! My old friend!  Oh, thank the stars you are here!”

“Mandelbrot?  Is that you?  It joys me to see a familiar elfin face greet me with such happiness.  I thought I was an enemy to all who knew me.”

“Not all, my friend.”  He pushed his red hair behind his ears and bent over to whisper to Sage, “Some of us remember what our kingdom could have been had the fools not kept you from being king.”

Sage turned to his two traveling companions to introduce the elf.  “This is Mandelbrot, advisor and sorcerer to the king who is currently betraying everyone.  Which makes me inclined to believe Eberon listens to none of his advice.”

“Oh, Sage, if only you knew how right you are.”  He looked up the the questioning crowd of elves in the throne room and said, “This is just an old friend come to lend us a hand.  Would some of you mind preparing a meal for him and his escorts, as well as a room?  Do not worry my friends, all will be well.  We must continue on with affairs as usual until a solution comes to light.”

They trusted in his judgment and went to other affairs to leave Mandelbrot and his arrivals to themselves.  “So, Sage,” Mandelbrot said in hushed tones, “please tell me that you and your friends have indeed come to lend a hand, to get us out of this wretched plight that our king has brought upon us?”

“You know that it is Eberon, then?” Sage queried as Mandelbrot led them through the dining hall and into a smaller eating chamber next to the kitchen.

“I do.  None of the remaining sane ones among us are aware, though.  I have kept it hidden.  I have kept much hidden, at least for now, to keep it calm.  Until the right time.  Then I will reveal all.”  Mandelbrot took a pitcher of wine and glasses from the servant elf as she handed them to him, and placed them on the table before the group, indicating for everyone to sit.  “Thank you, Gella,” he said to the girl.  She nodded and went to the kitchen to finish preparing a meal.

“I understand.  Yes, we are here to do what we can,” Sage said.

“We’ve got a plan, dear chap,” offered Benedick.

“You have introduced me, but not your friends…” Mandelbrot said.

“Benedick,” the cat said as he stuck his paw out for a good shake.

“I’m Eepwot,” the fiery said as he pointed lazily to his chest.  “This good feller’s Jinga of the Spangores, gave us a nice ride down ‘ere.”  Jinga nodded and smiled as he perched near the table.

“Nice to meet you all,” Mandelbrot said with a nod of his head.  “Now, what is this plan?”

“Well, it’s going to take a little time, but it’s the only thing I can think of, so we’re going to run with it.  We need you to harvest as much corn and grain as you can.”

Mandelbrot seemed already to understand.  “Genius.  Then you will enchant it and spread it about for the crows to eat?  Tis a grand idea.  The only way to counteract the spell that was originally cast upon them and use them to reverse the effects.”

“You catch on quickly,” Benedick exclaimed. 

“Well, you have to be quick in my line of work.  Or should I say our line of work, eh Sage?  Congratulations on becoming advisor to Queen Sarah.  You really deserve to be king, but I am sure she has a fine and more kinder kingdom at your beck.  How is your son, Vindar?”

“He is well.  Currently he is at the castle trying to bring some calm to Sunset City, hopefully not distracted by love.”  He and Benedick chuckled at this statement.

“Uh oh, courting a young lady?” Mandelbrot declared.

“Yes, a young woman named Isabelle.  She’s a lovely lass, comes from the valleys of the Shadow Mountains.  I am very proud of both of them.”

“She is human, then?  It is very wonderful to see that Queen Sarah has a much more open kingdom than we do here.  Love is love, no matter what race you are.”

Sage, saddened by his statement, replied, “Yes.  Yes it is.”

A young male elf came into the kitchen and whispered into Mandelbrot’s ear.  Mandelbrot nodded his head and told the elf, “Very good.  I need you to get Simeon, the harvester.  Tell him to gather all the grains from the granaries and to do his best to harvest all the corn and grains he can.  We’ll take advantage of this lull time to put a plan into action.  Do what the last two did to avoid the crows’ spell.”

After the elf male left, Sage asked, “Is there news?”

“Yes.  It looks as if our people have become so worn out from fighting that many have just collapsed to sleep.  There are very few remaining awake enough to fight.  It is very strange, few have been killed so far in these battles.  I haven’t been able to risk seeing the wounded first hand, but I suspect that there is something in these spells causing fast healing to occur, else we would have many more dead.  This is all an elaborate ploy to cause chaos, Sage, I can almost assure you.  There is something quite different at stake.  These are suddenly dark times, Sage, but I have met with the prophets, and they tell of a far darker future.  It’s really unfathomable.  New magic coming into our world, with limitless destructive power.”

Sage pinched the hairs of his goatee thoughtfully.  “More bad news, that’s all we need.  Well, all we can do is play along and do what we can.  I’m certain we’ll come out on top in the long run.  Or at least I hope so.”

Their food arrived in short order, and they ate ravenously.  The break of dawn would soon approach, and weary eyes and hearts made way for a barely restful slumber.

Sage barely slept at all, dreaming of a love long lost at the hands of a foolish foe…

*        *        *

Jareth and Marlena stayed up most of the night talking whilst Rattlebeak and Toby slept, Sir Didymus slouched in a corner asleep, a result of his failed and needless attempts at staying on guard for the night.

“So, you’re quest is to save your lady love from a dark stranger in a foreign land.  Sadly, this man is also part of yourself, so you must have aid in the form of this young boy to help you destroy him without destroying yourself.  This is really fascinating, you know, to hear first hand of other realms.  You are very lucky to live in such a place, do you know?”  Marlena’s face was lit up in the warm lamp-glow of the last flames while her eyes stared off dreamily in an attempt to conjure up images of the Underground.

“It seems very commonplace to me.  But, as a boy and a man, I would look into this realm and see how often people here dreamt of being a part of worlds like mine.  It taught me a bit of appreciation for my world, even in the difficult times.  Maybe that is why I loved Sarah so, she was completely immersed in my world in particular, while it had become so commonplace to me.  She sparked a bit of magic into my life that I was never able to extinguish.”  He brushed his fingers through his hair and let out a small laugh. “You know, it’s funny, I can talk to you better than anyone, excepting my companion Granen.”

“It’s because I don’t have any preconceived notions of you, I would suppose.  It seems to me that everyone has already made their opinion of you, even your love.”  Marlena cut down to the harsh truth with an amazing gentleness.  “But, if you remain in your current efforts to be seen as who you truly are, it won’t be long before your world changes, I am sure of that.”

“Well, thank you.  It is a comforting thought.  You really don’t sound as if you belong to this world, Marlena.  Where are you from?”

“I don’t know.  I don’t remember much about my youth or my life as a young adult.  I was found in the forest in a coma at the age of twenty-three.  I lived in a mental hospital for some time before I was able to live in the everyday world.  I had to be trained on how to support myself.  Even then, I eventually went against all my teachings and put this shop together.  I’ve been very successful.  I watch shows about the unexplainable religiously, and did throughout my time in the hospital.  I think something profound happened to me in those woods, and that is where I acquired my magical abilities.  They are rare here, perhaps more due to people’s limited viewpoints more than limited abilities.  Very few people here would believe magic if it poofed out of nowhere right in front of their eyes!”  She chuckled at the thought.  “Though, we do have our share of lovely loonies here in New York.  I think they are the ones who breathe true life into this city.  There would be no sanity if it weren’t for their insanity.”

“Very well said.”  Jareth wore an expression of true appreciation.  The conversation had put him at ease in this land of strange wonders.  “I wonder what we are going to do about our little set of loonies.  We are supposed to find the house of Sarah’s… erm, twin I suppose you would call her.  She has an enchanted mirror that will take us back to the Underground to perform our duties there.  We thought Toby would be near her home and we would quickly be able to retrieve him, but, as you can see, things haven’t gone according to plan.”

“I don’t know what to tell you.  I doubt he is powerful enough to fly you back with him, and you both need to be there for the spell.  Which means you need to get some money together to either take a bus or fly on a plane to the city, if it is a long distance.  You’ll never make it on foot in time.  I don’t have any money I could give you right now, but I should be able to afford a little bit in a couple of days.  If you can wait, I’ll spare what I can.  In the meantime, you can stay here.  My rooms are upstairs, and I have a fairly large extra room that you can all stay in.  I wish I had a spell strong enough to help you, but, as you can see, I only now know of the existence of your world, which would indicate that I have a great deal more to learn.”

“You are very hospitable.  We really appreciate your kindness.  We are also at your disposal until you acquire the money, and we will be sure to compensate you.  You could come with us, and stay.  I think you would fit in very well.”

“That is a lovely idea.”  She sighed at the thought.  “I may very well take you up on that offer.”  She rose from the couch and eyed Toby’s sleeping form.  “Until then, I suppose we should be getting you guys off to bed.  It’s been a long night for you.”

“Yes it has.  But, it would have been much longer had not chance brought you across our path.”

“I don’t know,” she answered as she gazed upon Toby as she gingerly picked him up.  “I don’t think it was chance.”